Sgt. Drakus, out of his depth in an investigation, just nods and goes along with what Gregor suggests.
Ishari says, "well we have shipments of gold and silver in occasionally, of course, many can exchange greater or lesser coins for an equal value, minus a donation to the church of course of 1%. Also we store money for others as well."
"Store money! Any coins go out in large sums bout tha time tha plague hit? Find out who alls coins went out, an then we got a list tah work offa."
Gregor thinks a bit, suggesting, "Maybe it's not money out that would lead us somewhere, as that could have easily been a coin here and there. We should look for any money in before signs of the epidemic hit. If there is something wrong with the coins, it would be easy to give all of them to the Grand Vault, and let the most holy church of Abadar dole them out as they maintain the city's commerce."
"I am jus suggestin a place tah start, will take a keen eye tah riddle this out. Maybe one o tha names will be o interest, iffen it matches tha doctors origins."
"Somebodies up tah someting an I bet they left a trail."
Marra trails after her quarry....
Ishari says, "Both are valid lines of query, I shall have some younger acolytes bring the ledgers from just before the plague struck."
she bows to Ishari
"Thank you for your cooperation."
You wait until nearly dark, the acolyte returns with two other acolyte carrying 3 dozen books. "We went through all the back records to be certain, but the logbooks for the two days prior to today are missing, here are the logbooks for today and yesterday, as well as the logs through last week, minus the missing days."
"is there a signout log for the books and if so does it say who signed out those books?"
"They're just boring ledgers, who would want them?"
"I'm willing to bet the missing books have the information we are looking for, and they are important if they can incriminate a high official."
"Tha persons who started this plague would want em!"
"As the discussion continues, Marra returns,breathless, "Need your help, almost spotted, ducked around corner, ran into a problem elsewhere..."
As Marra calms down, she explains more simply that she ducked around a corner to avoid being spotted and ran smack into a pile of corpses, it appears some of the early victims of the plague had been dumped in an alley.
"So now were tah find out who took tha books, an even when we find em tha might be fakes by then."
"Marra wha trouble yah run intah? A pile o corpses, ain't we got them visitors tah take care o tha?"
"Aye, if we want them to take the credit for stopping the plague...might do"
Gregor seems irritated at the manner in which they question Marra, and also by her answer. "Nevermind passing the task off, or assigning glory. What we should worry about is the improper manner of disposal when we are dealing with a plague, not to mention the law states that the dead go to the Grey, not in the nearest, most convenient alleyway. This is how we get infestations of both rat and otyugh. Marra, I would appreciate being led to these dumped bodies. I do not cease being responsible for maintaining Korvosa's laws simply by giving myself another task."
He looks at the ledgers, "Maybe you could try and speak with whoever was responsible those days, and ask them if they happen to remember who, if anyone, brought in a large delivery of coin. Otherwise, we may be stuck with the only other lead of looking into the ship, and I personally don't fancy a swim in any waters that sit right close to possibly plagued ship's cargo."
"Aye iffen yer jus gonna pile yer kin intah an alley we might as well build chutes round tha city tha goes straight down tah tha mushroom shaped critters."
"As clean as that would be, it lacks respect for the dead and for the familys of the deceased."
"Yes Gregor, that's what I was counting on, your and Drakus' sense of duty, always appreciated. It's Racker's Alley."
Drakus/Gregor get a +5 to the roll
"Kent say I ave heard o tha place....does it ave a bar?"
"Oh no, not that place."
Gregor adds warning to Pai's expression, "The place is notorious for its less than savory occupants, and their propensity for violence. It would be best if we went with caution, and stay prepared in case some fool decides to try and take the authorities."
"Believe me Nik'o, you'll want more than just a spell to protect yourself."
Knowledge (Local):
"Yeah; depending on the time of day, we may need an extra squad."
"Sounds like a fine place! Ready when you err!"
Knowledge (Local): 1d20+3+5
"Yeah; depending on the time of day, we may need an extra squad."
"Under the circumstances, with the guard being utilized elsewise, I think we're on our own. Imagine my surprise when I slipped into that alley, and the overwhelming stench hit me, all the finely honed instincts from my time as a Lamm, screamed at me to run, and keep running. But my duty to our city and Iomedae's will steeled my will and I proceeded to have a quick look. Of Course I had Hawk at the ready.Any one seen the lil dragon?
"Judging by your facial reactions Nik'o you think we're pulling your leg,
we are not, we are dead serious on this one."
Sgt. Drakus adjusts his helmet.
"All right princess. You want to go now, or wait for morning? Your call since you saw the bodies."
Marra ignores the princess jab with her usual stoicism."No point in waiting I suppose. I'm sure those dumping the bodies would most likely be doing it be cover of dark, so perhaps we can catch them in the act, no?"
The party makes its way through the city as dusk is approaching. Once again the fog is rolling in, the lack of movement in the city causes your footfalls to echo off the walls closing in, as the occasional wracking cough is heard in the distance.
"Guessin ther ain't no bar down this way."
Mai thinks to herself
Holy crap, this place is creepy with all the silence.
and the fog does not help lighten the atmosphere either.
Sgt. Drakus tramps sturdily along, trying to stay alert for ambushes in the fog.
Perception:
The high walls of the surrounding buildings normally throw this awkwardly bent alley into constant shadow. Although littered with garbage and filth, the refuse isn’t the most stomach-turning trait of this rundown sideway. Heaped against a bent wooden wall rises a pile of what appears to be more than three dozen plague victims, their faces blistered and flushed, eyes open and staring. The scent of death is overpowered by the reek of rot, suggesting that some of these corpses have been dead for days. This is odd because the Plague collection only started yesterday.
"Looks like sombody got a head start on pilin up bodies, yah think tha bodies on tha bottom might be sometin other tha plague victims?"
"I think we needs a cart!"
"Seems likely we spect tha plague was livin on coins, so any object on err near em might be infected. Wait yah tink tha ones on bottom might be tha ones who spread tha plague from tha get go, tha would makes em tha first ones tah gets it as well, an get rid o witnesses."
"I think the plague may spread by contact with infected objects."
"Looks like sombody got a head start on pilin up bodies, yah think tha bodies on tha bottom might be sometin other tha plague victims?"
"I think we needs a cart!"
"Or some cleansing flames"